Black Russian Terrier vs Cane Corso

A Black Russian Terrier
Photo: Seongbin Im
A Cane Corso
Photo: Marta García, juan Manuel Morato

Side by side

Black Russian Terrier
Cane Corso
Adult weight
Males 50–60 kg (110–132 lb); females 45–50 kg (99–110 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 45–50 kg (99–110 lb); females 40–45 kg (88–99 lb)2
Lifespan
Median 10.9 years3
Median 8.1 years3
Fully grown
13 months, both sexes4
Group
Pinschers & molossoids5
Pinschers & molossoids2
Coat
Wire or harsh coat5
Short coat2
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Sheds through the year
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
A moderate amount
Health
No sourced figure
Cherry eye (far more likely); Inward-rolling eyelid (much more likely)6,7
Class
Watchdog
Watchdog

Which suits you

Lifespan
In UK vet records the Black Russian Terrier lives longer: a median of 10.9 years, against 8.1 for the Cane Corso.
Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Black Russian Terrier holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out, the Cane Corso sheds through the year.
Temperament
They differ most on intelligence (Black Russian Terrier: needs daily brain work; Cane Corso: learns readily, likes games) and on prey drive (Black Russian Terrier: chases; needs managing; Cane Corso: likely to chase small pets).
Alike
They are much the same size as adults, about 51 kg (113 lb) for the Black Russian Terrier and 45 kg (99 lb) for the Cane Corso.
Alike
Both are rated the same on loyalty: sticks close to its people.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Black Russian Terrier
Pinschers & molossoids · Large

By temperament the breed is calm, self-assured and watchful. It is reserved with strangers and closely attached to its own family.

Cane Corso
Pinschers & molossoids · Giant

The Cane Corso is calm and watchful, reserved with strangers and closely attached to its family. It is intelligent and responsive to training, with a strong protective instinct.

The Black Russian Terrier page →The Cane Corso page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Black Russian Terrier
Cane Corso
Activity
A good daily walk and play
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Differs
Needs daily brain work
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Needs an experienced owner
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Black Russian Terrier
Cane Corso
Affection
Affectionate on its own terms
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Sticks close to its people
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Black Russian Terrier
Cane Corso
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Differs
Chases; needs managing
Likely to chase small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour8. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home9,10.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Black Russian Terrier grows to the heavier adult, about 53 kg against the Cane Corso's 45 kg.
Black Russian Terrier
Cane Corso
02040602m4m6m9m12m18m
02040602m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Black Russian Terrier with
Black Russian Terrier vs Giant SchnauzerCane Corso vs Neapolitan MastiffCane Corso vs RottweilerCane Corso vs Dogue de BordeauxCane Corso vs MastiffBlack Russian Terrier vs Bouvier des FlandresAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·